When Print Makes Sense

Just heard this on the radio: beginning in December, the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles will be reinstating the mailed license renewal notices. How interesting – and smart.
My license expires at the end of this month, my birthday month. Had I not happened to notice this one day over the summer, I guarantee I’d have failed to renew it. Licenses are valid for several years here in the state.
Somewhere in time the ROMV decided to can the mailing reminder program.
On their site it still reads: “The responsibility of renewing a Massachusetts license/ID card before the expiration date lies solely with the holder of the Massachusetts license/ID card.” (I expect an update soon.)
It must have been disastrous for them if they’re reinstating the mailed courtesy notices. I heard on the same news report that the mailing program (it’s a postcard) costs the state $1 million annually, but this go-round it won’t cost them anything, thanks to an advertiser. No mention of who the advertiser is. I won’t find out for 5 more years.
Here’s hoping the postcard program is still in place then, although who knows? They could replace it with text messages to our smartphones.